Process for enameling plates and the like



ZR! H. PRICHARD.

PROCESS FOR ENAMELING PLATES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,1920.

' after UNITED STATES ROBERT E. PRICHARD, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS FOR ENAMELING PLATES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11119 14, 1921 Applicationfiled January 9, 1920. Serial No. 352.228.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H. PRIOHARD, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, in thecounty of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new anduseful Process for Enameling Plates and the like, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to and has for its main object the provision of animproved process for successively applying a plurality of coats ofenamel to flat articles, such as automobile license plates, in quickorder, so that the plates may be rapidly completed, one after the other,with a minimum of time, labor and cost. A machine for this purpose of myinvention is disclosed in my application filed Jan. 9, 1920, Serial No.352,227. Other objects include the provision as different steps in theprocess of alternate enameling and drying operations; the treatment ofthe enameled articles by a forced draft each application where theplates are being moved flatwise of the enamel and prior to thesubsequent application in order that the second and subsequent coats ofenamel will adhere to the first coat; the frequent heating of the airthus forced into contact with the enameled articles for the purpose offacilitating the drying of'the articles; and the final disposition ofsaid articles to points exterior of the machine for carrying out theaforenamed process, where said articles may be subsequently baked in anoven or kiln, for hardening the enamel.

For the purpose of illustratingmy new process so that persons skilled inthe artmay readily understand the several steps thereof, I have shownon-the accompanying drawing one practical embodiment of a machine forcarrying out the objects of my invention, similar characters ofreference being emplo ed' throughout the specification-and in saiddrawing for indicating the same and like parts. r

In said drawings: v

Figure, 1 i'sa plan of a machine of the 3 character stated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.

The articles P to be enameled are first depositedupon a table t, shownat the left hand end of the machine in the "drawings and are thenfedinto an enameling unit A of the machine manuall one after the other.Other enameling units of like character, may be provided, the numberdepending upon the number of coats of enamel to be applied in eachparticular case. have shown two additional units, B and C, and all ofthe units shown are substantially spaced apart in longitudinalalinement, as indicated.

Intermediate the enameling units A, B and C, I provide drier units ofthe character shown at D and D, in the drawings, and at the extreme rearend of the machine, 1 provide a discharge unit Z for finally disposingof the completed articles.

The enameling units include frame members 1, having enamel distributingrollers. 8 and 9 mounted therebetween above the level of the table 6which receive a continuous supply of enamel from a tank T supported onsaid frame members. Enameling rollers 26 and 27 are also providedbetween said frame members, the upper roller 26 having a compositionsurface for receiving and applying the enamel to the articles P, whichare adapted to be fed between the rollers 26 and 27, and said rollerbeing preferably ad-- justable vertically so as to yield to thethickness of the articles moved thereby. The lower roller 27 isstationarily held as are also a plurality of smaller forwarding rollers36, 37 and 38 which cooperate with In the drawings, 1'

the roller 27 for advancing the articles throu h the machine units.

Eadh of the units A, B and C has a Separate motor M, which is connectedby means of a belt 68 with a driven pulley 70 suitably mounted on anaxis transversely of the machine frame 47. The shaft of pulley 70 may besuitably geared to the rollers 8, 9, 26, 27,

36, 37 and 38 for operating all'of said elements as may also a roller 49on therear side of each of said units over WhlCll a belt 12 operates formoving the articles P through the drier units D and D:

Belts '6, b, operate at their rear ends over wardl' through rte thedifference in temperature at the different elevations in a room beingsufficient for this purpose generally. 'At the rear ends of the.

channels 48, I provide air inlets, T and 1, respectively, and at themouths of the said inlets, I provide electric fans F. and F,respectively, for forcing' air from the atmosphere through the channels48 and upand from the stacks S and S. ating elements H and H may also belocated at suitable points in front of the fans F and F for heating theair thusforced through the channels and said heating elements may beconnected with any suitable source of heat, such as electric currents,gas or hot air supply, according to the convenience of the user.

' When the third, or final coat of enamel is applied to the articles P,the said articles are fed on to the final discharge belt Z and thereinspected for defects, whereupon they are finally disposed upon suitabletrays and subsequently baked in an ovenfor han.

dening the enamel to a suitable degree for use.v

In the use of my process, it will be observed that after applying eachcoat of enamel the articles are slowly. advanced flatwise by means ofthe belts I) through the draft or heated zones 48 for a sufficientlength of time and distance to effect a preliminary drying of the enamelso as to insure the adhering of a subsequent coat thereto without thenecessity of a considerable lapse of time ,to allow the enamel to drynaturally. I

Thus, a maximum amount of enameling may be done in a minimum length oftime and great econom will also be efiected in the production 0 enameledplates of the character mentioned. s

Finally, it will be readily understood, my improved process is adaptedto apply, successively, a numberof coats of paint, or enamel, whichwould ordinarily be separately baked after each coat, in order to affordsufficient covering equalities. The individual application ofthesuccessive coats of paint or enamel, in quick order, by means of thismachine serves to build up the surfaces enameled and affords the sameresults as ari-plurality of separately baked coats of paint.

thereto. Thus, though each coat is set suffi- &

ciently for the purpose stated, each coat is still in a wet state whenthe next coat is applied and .it is quite possible to wipe the paintfrom the metal after the application .of the final coat. It is quiteapparent that with my process and machine the three coats of paint shownand described, or more coats where desired, may be applied to the platesin the same time and with equal results as compared with a singleapplication of paint in the usual and ordinary process.

In the use of my process it will be ob served by reference to thedrawing that the successive coats of enamel are applied to only one sideof the plates at each operation. The plates are then moved continuouslyfrom the table 25 through the several enameling and drying units of themachine in horizontal position on the belts b with their unpaintedsurfaces resting upon the belts, and their freshly coated surfacesexposed to the currents of air within the heating chambers. This insuresa more proper and quicker drying of the enamel than would otherwise bepossible were the plates supported in any other position.

What I claim is: I

1'. The herein described process for enameling plates and the like whichconsists in feeding the plates flatwise into an initial enameling unitand automatically mov-.

ing said plates fiatwise and continuously through alternating drying andenameling units thereafter, said drying units including forced. draftzones, and finally discharging the plates for further treatment.

2. The herein described process for enameling plates and the like, whichconsists in alternately applying enamel and passing the sheets fiatwisethrough drying zones in which the sheets are exposed to a forced draftof heated air, and finally discharging them for further treatment. a

3. The herein described process for enamelmg plates and the like, whichconsists of feeding the plates flatwise into an initial enameling unit,alternately applying enamel andpassing the sheets flatwise throughdrying zones in which the sheets are exposed to a forced draft of heatedair, and finally discharging them.

4. The herein described process for enameling plates and the like, whichconsists in feeding the plates fiatwise into an initial Signed at Los Aneles, county of Los Anunit, alternately applying successive coats geles,and State of alifornia, this 30th day of enamel to one side of theplates and pass of December, 1919.

ing the plates flatwise through drying zones ROBERT H. PRICHARD; 5 inwhich the plates are exposed to a forced In presence of draft of heatedair, and finally discharging EDYTHE F I PRIQHARD,

them. i H. M. BRUZNDAGE.

